Stadium capacity at Wakefield Wildcats slashed for start of new season

Mark Berry

The capacity of the Wakefield Wildcats’ Rapid Solicitors Stadium will be reduced to 5,333 for the beginning of the new Super League season.

Following an annual review of the stadium’s safety certificate in recent weeks, the club is required to carry out the works and as such must operate at a reduced capacity for the beginning of the 2014 season.

The club has engaged consultant engineers, Tim Stower and Partners Ltd, to lead on the work and the Wildcats are now asking for support from volunteers to enable the works to be completed as quickly as possible.

Any individuals with trade specific experience are particularly welcomed.

A statement released by the club said: “The figure is a maximum capacity for the stadium and no stands will be required to close fully.

“There will be an incremental increase of the stadium’s capacity as the phases of work are completed.”

Wildcats consultant chief executive, Kath Hetherington, said: “We will be doing everything within our power to get the stadium to a point where we can operate at an increased capacity as soon as possible and in order to do that we are asking for the support of volunteers.

“Any builders, engineers or indeed anyone simply with time on their hands who can contribute to the works are asked to contact the club.

“We have just over 2,000 season ticket holders so we envisage the capacity being sufficient for the first few home games of the season, although we would advise supporters to purchase season tickets or individual match tickets in advance as opposed to paying on the gate as they may have done in previous years to guarantee being able to see the games.

“We hope to be operating at an increased capacity for the Good Friday derby against Castleford Tigers, however, this is not something we can put a specific timescale on and if it takes longer then so be it. This is where the support of volunteers will be key.”